Inverter

With growing use of PV and other renewable energy forms in everything from homes to large scale power plants, demand is also increasing for compatible inverters to enable power exchange with the local grid.

Adjacent to Europe’s largest PV testing laboratory in Zeppelinheim, Germany, UL is now ready for business with its European hub for inverter testing in accordance with U.S. and CEC requirements, including UL 1741 and CEC (California Energy Commission) compliance. Testing is available for static inverters and converters for use in independent power systems, as well as inverter software and programmable components.

The new UL laboratory covers 600 sqm and features several test stations for small inverters (< 30KW output) and two stations for larger inverters (<100KW output). Two project planners and several lab technicians are onsite to help manufacturers work through certification formalities, which ideally begin early in the product development phase – in order to ensure efficient market access once the product is ready to launch.

The new inverter testing laboratory adds to UL’s inverter certification services already established for European markets at its facility near Milan, Italy, which covers CE, EMC and ENEL testing.Heike Thomas, Business Development, UL Energy

Solar

Securing PV’s long-term reliability and durability

The long-term reliability and durability of PV modules is a critical factor to identify the overall level of a product’s performance. In order to more accurately assess reliability and durability, new standards and test methods are the focus of a current Japanese research project and an upcoming international forum in the U.S.

In Japan, a government funded research project has been organized by METI (Ministry of Economy and Trade Industry) and AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) with the goal of identifying factors affecting PV modules’ reliability and durability over a 20-30 year time span. As a part of the project, AIST has made a plan for conducting tests over longer periods and greater frequency than normal testing methods, including several steps of thermal cycle tests (1,000 hours) and damp heat tests (1,000 hours) for at least 1 year. UL Japan will contribute to the project as an advisor to help establish testing methods conform to international standards and will perform some of the environmental tests at UL’s new PV laboratory in Ise, Mie-ken prefecture.

To facilitate international harmonization, Japan’s AIST will be joined by NREL, UL and other testing laboratories at the International PV Module Quality Assurance Forum in San Francisco this July. Amongst others, UL’s Jeffrey Smidt will be serving on the Forum’s Advisory Board. The Forum will primarily focus on promoting standards to quickly assess a module‘s ability to withstand long-term stresses, with regards to the original design as well as to the extent that the manufacturing process ensures consistent quality.

Solar

UL promotes services for Global Market Access this week at Intersolar in Munich

From 8-10 June 2011, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is participating at Intersolar Europe 2011 in Munich, Germany, the world’s single largest exhibition for the solar industry. At Stand 116 in Hall A3, UL will be showing photovoltaic manufacturers and other solar industry stakeholders how to facilitate product time to market with UL’s Global Market Access services.

Visitors to the stand can look forward learning more about how UL leverages its global network of experts and newly accredited IEC testing capacities in Europe to provide its clients with time-optimized access to key sales markets.Heike Thomas, Business Development, UL Energy

UL University Trainings

UL’s Knowledge Solutions

UL University offers customized private and public training and seminars. We provide participants with valuable information already useful in the design phase of the product life cycle and imperative for fast and easy worldwide market access.

Upcoming photovoltaic compliance workshopsAre you familiar with the safety compliance requirements for photovoltaic (PV) modules and panels? Learn from UL experts by attending UL University’s workshop “Photovoltaics: Overview of UL 1703 and IEC 61730”. In this workshop, participants will learn about UL’s role in making PV products safe, review the fundamental differences between UL 1703 and IEC 61730 and will get an overview of UL certification services in relation to PV products.

For more information, including dates, locations and pricing, or to register, please visit www.uluniversity.com.

UL Verification

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. is not only a global leader in product safety testing and certification but UL‘s involvement in commercial testing, inspection, and audit work is recognized and respected around the world as well.

Today, it is a constant challenge to find cost effective ways to test and inspect products without compromising quality. UL‘s Research & Development (R&D) Testing, Verification Testing, Inspection & Audit Services and our Retailer Services support manufacturing business operations from initial design through prototyping and into final production, while also enhancing retail supply chain quality management operations.

UL Environment

UL Environment is a new source for independent green claims validation, product certification, advisory services and standards development. We‘re here to help manufacturers, their business customers and consumers alike get clarity on what may or may not be a sustainable product.